Dale Marshall

About me

How Can Counselling Help?

Life can be complex and difficult to deal with, as a consequence we may find ourselves struggling with distressing feelings, thoughts and relationships, affecting our ability to cope and function. It's not always easy to understand ourselves, our responses and why we feel the way we do. We may find ourselves struggling on, hoping that problems will resolve themselves or that we may somehow find the answer. Counselling can help. I provide a safe confidential space through which you can develop an understanding of the problems that you are experiencing. Based on this understanding we can then work together on resolving your difficulties and develop a way of living that is in tune with your goals and values.

Counselling Service

I have 16 years of counselling experience in a primary care mental health service and a specialist drug and alcohol addictions service. I bring a wealth of experience to my practice, having worked with individuals with a wide variety of problems. I am an accredited and registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and work within their ethical framework for practice.

I provide short and long-term counselling to individuals. I work from an integrative perspective. I integrate a psychodynamic perspective with elements of compassion focused therapy. A psychodynamic approach explores the impact of earlier experiences on how we relate to others and ourselves. The quality of the relationship we have with others and ourselves is fundamental to our emotional wellbeing and therefore often is an important area to explore in counselling. Compassion focused therapy (CFT) integrates aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy and focuses on developing a compassionate orientation to ourselves rather than one of self-criticism, which can be a strong feature in emotional problems. I believe that we all have unique potential for self-development and personal growth and that working with the challenges that we face in life can help us along this journey.

As well as working indoors there is the option of working outdoors in natural spaces. This nature based therapeutic approach can often be a helpful way of working with some problems. It's an option that you can discuss with me further if you are interested in this way of working. I am a member of CAPO - Counselling and Psychotherapy Outdoors.

How to Arrange a FirstAppointment

If you would like to arrange an appointment or to talk some more about counselling please phone or e-mail me.

At your first counselling session we can discuss the problems that you want help with, the counselling service that I provide and any questions you may have. This initial session will last for 50 minutes as will subsequent sessions.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications:

BSc Psychology (East London Polytechnic, 1990)

Graduate Diploma in Counselling (Keele University, 1997)

Certificate in Principles of the Theory and Practice of Supervision (Metanoia Institute, London 2005)

For the past 16 years I've worked for a Primary Care Psychology Service at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust counselling individuals with mental health problems. I have worked with people on a wide variety of issues over the years including depression, anxiety, phobias, PTSD, childhood issues/traumas, relationship issues, bereavement, self-esteem and many other issues.

As well as mental health I have specific expertise in counselling individuals with drug and alcohol problems/addictions. I worked for CAIS a drug and alcohol agency in North Wales for 12 years as a Senior Counsellor supervising other counsellors working in the field.